Sexism at the heart of politics laid bare
Women have been chipping away at the ancient pillars of powers for as long as they have been there
NOW that the waves of allegations following #MeToo have reached Ireland, it’s no surprise hard questions are being asked within the worlds of entertainment and politics. One thing both have in common is that by and large they are bastions of male power, which tell stories about men, for men, and often treat women’s lives as an afterthought.
The Oireachtas Women’s Caucus wants a survey of everyone working in Leinster House to see if there is a culture of bullying or sexual harassment in our national parliament. It has written to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl requesting that a survey of working conditions be carried out.
Oireachtas authorities are also set to bring in a new set of principles on “dignity and respect in the parliamentary workplace” covering issues like cases of sexual harassment and bullying.
In the playground of parliamentary politics, its high jinks, and its often rowdy atmosphere, men can sometimes exert the power they so crave in the lowliest ways. It’s the oldest and most harmful trick in the patriarchal handbook.
Just last week Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone claimed she experienced misogynistic bullying at the hands of a male colleague. Fine Gael headquarters is investigating the complaint about conduct of a male colleague who she has accused of “talking down to her”.
A Kerry Fine Gael councillor was told recently she should “dye the hair blonde” if she wanted to get speaking time. “I’ve worn a yellow jacket to make sure you see me,” Aoife Thornton said, frustrated at being overlooked by party colleague John Sheahan, cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council.
Late last year Barry Walsh, a former chairman of Young Fine Gael and a member of Fine Gael’s executive council, was exposed for a series of highly abusive tweets about female politicians. We had lapgate when Fine Gael TD Tom Barry pulled fellow Fine Gaeler Aine Collins onto his knee during a late-night Dáil sitting in summer 2013. And the then-Taoiseach Brian Cowen told Eamon Gilmore once that Joan Burton needed to be “reined in”.
Mick Wallace was infamously caught saying “Miss Piggy has toned it down a bit today” in the Dáil chamber. “That Mary Mitchell O’Connor one.” Luke Ming Flanagan said. “They’d want to ban her wearing pink.” This sexist exchange was just another marker for the wider concern of whether women can ever hope to be treated completely equally inside Leinster House, especially when they’re in the minority.
Thirty-five women were elected to Dáil Éireann last time, making up 22pc of all deputies. Women on top? Not quite.
That was a 40pc increase from the previous record of 25 women elected in 2011, but still a chronic imbalance of power.
Serious conversations about the problem of sexual harassment in Westminster started last autumn, when the #MeToo movement was at its height. A subsequent report showed that shocking numbers of
parliamentary employees have encountered sexual harassment in the workplace. More than 1,370 people (around 17pc of the Westminster workforce) responded to a survey that asked them to share their experiences of harassment and bullying. More than 250 (that’s almost one in five) said they had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in the last year.
Several prominent figures were forced to resign after being accused of sexual misconduct, including former international trade minister Mark Garnier, who admitted calling his secretary “sugar tits” and asking her to buy him sex toys, and ex-defence secretary Michael Fallon, who was accused of inappropriate behaviour by multiple women.
Sexual harassment and assault are endemic in workplaces.
A 2016 report by the UK’s Trades Union Congress found that more than half (52pc) of women, and nearly two-thirds (63pc) of women aged 18-24 years old, said they have experienced sexual harassment at work. There is no reason to imagine that very different results would be found here and there is no reason to imagine that it isn’t reflected in Leinster House too.
Tearing down these ancient pillars of powers is not going to come quickly.
Women have been chipping away at these structures for as long as they’ve been there. And while the Dáil reflects the misogyny and sexism we see in society, it’s a different workplace from most in that HR is basically non-existent. TDs are in charge of recruiting their staff, and these are usually small teams all working in the same office. TDs are often reluctant to talk about abuse, perhaps for fear of seeming “weak”.
SO yes, there is bullying, sexism and worse in parliament, just like everywhere else. But the way the workplace is set up is unlike anywhere else, which is why it will take this survey to understand the scale of abusive behaviour.
A parliament that can’t deal with sexual harassment within its own corridors is one that doesn’t understand how gender inequality is a cause and consequence of violence against women and girls, and it will never be able to support women around the country in tackling these problems.
The problem of harassment won’t be solved in a few months, though. Cultures take time to change, but we owe it to those who come forward to make sure it was worth it.
Women in politics should know that they don’t have to stay silent about harassment for fear of not being taken seriously: plenty of commentators, and voters, will be on their side.